KARACHI: Work on the under-construction Submarine Chowrangi underpass and Sunset Boulevard flyover is expected to be completed by May 2018, said Planning and Development Board (Sindh) Chairman Muhammad Waseem on Sunday.

Responding to a query by Dawn on the expected date of completion, Mr Waseem said: “One track of the project, which is Karachi’s biggest underpass, was reopened today for traffic. This track was opened for a test run earlier last month but some finishing work was left. The slabs for the roof/ceiling of the underpass were fixed during the time it was closed. The rooftop is fixed now, while potholes have been covered and the side-lanes carpeted so that smooth flow of traffic is ensured.”

The Submarine Chowrangi underpass was one of the 21 development schemes approved under the Rs10 billion ‘Karachi Uplift Package’ in 2016 by then newly appointed Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

In a meeting held on Aug 2, 2016, Mr Shah had ordered early completion of all schemes, including this underpass. However, the project, with an initial cost of Rs667.6 million and a completion deadline for November 2016, was delayed.

Construction eventually began in April 2017 and a revised deadline of December 2017 was set. Work on the project continues to this day, with the PC-1 cost at Rs2.2 billion.

Acknowledging that the project was well past its deadline, the Sindh government official said the project was revised because of certain technical reasons.

“First, there was a delay of three to four months due to a status quo order by the Sindh High Court. We had set up a crushing plant at an adjoining lot near the construction site to save the hassle of transporting the material all the way from Surjani Town. However, some locals from the area accused us of taking over the playground and went to court,” he said.

Another issue was the conflict with the Anti-Narcotics Force which has its office located in the vicinity and had encroached on the service lane.

“The ANF didn’t want us to begin work in the area and cited security issues. However, this is a project that for citizens and the CM had to intervene to resolve this issue,” he added.

Then there was the lack of a feasibility report on the said project that hampered progress.

“There is so much happening in Karachi, with so many mega projects mushrooming all over. When the PC-1 is made in haste, many aspects and ground realities are overlooked and issues start to pop up once the digging starts,” he said. “No feasibility report was carried out for this project.”

The maze of utility lines — for gas, sewerage and water — which pass under the construction site and the high-tension K-Electric line on top added to the confusion and delay. To allow the smooth functioning of the transmission line, two separate underpasses have been constructed.

“We didn’t know which gas or water line was going where and all this is adding to the cost of the project and revisions,” said Mr Waseem.

“The two-lane flyover being constructed on Sunset Boulevard will further ease the flow of traffic coming from Korangi Road (mostly heavy traffic from Korangi Industrial Area) towards Punjab Colony by making it signal free. Drilling has already finished and it will be done by May 2018.” The PC-1 cost of the said project is Rs662.122m.

Messier times ahead

The project is adding to the woes of citizens with each passing day — by increasing the time of their commute, damaging vehicles as well as causing multiple accidents and increasing respiratory problems.

Earlier in June 2017, two boys drowned while swimming in the under-construction site where rainwater had accumulated. Following the tragic incident, temporary barriers were erected. While the project shows no sign of completion, traffic policemen at the site report that the number of accidents, mostly bike riders slipping and injuring themselves and cars ramming into truck, has gone up.

The cement-laden dust is contributing to respiratory and eye infections.

“I have often seen ambulances stuck in this traffic mess,” said Syed Farhan, who commutes daily from Phase 4, DHA to Ziauddin Medical College. “God forbid, if some major calamity occurs, there is no way for rescue services to make way,” said a policeman at the Sunset Boulevard site.

“The worst time is night when the road is jampacked with heavy vehicles — mostly trucks and oil containers. This is just a disaster waiting to happen.”

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2018